Olympus E-PL3 versus Canon 80D

The Olympus PEN E-PL3 and the Canon EOS 80D are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in June 2011 and February 2016. The E-PL3 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the 80D is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-PL3) and an APS-C (80D) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 12.2 megapixel, whereas the Canon provides 24 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their size, their sensors, their features, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Olympus E-PL3 vs Canon 80D

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-PL3 and the Canon 80D. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. You can also toggle the display to switch to a percentage comparison if you prefer that the measures are being expressed in relative terms (in this case, the camera on the left – the E-PL3 – represents the basis or 100 percent across all the size and weight measures).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Canon 80D is considerably larger (107 percent) than the Olympus E-PL3. Moreover, the 80D is substantially heavier (133 percent) than the E-PL3. It is noteworthy in this context that the 80D is splash and dust-proof, while the E-PL3 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist.
You can find an overview of optics for the two cameras in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-PL3) and the Canon EF Lens Catalog (80D). Mirrorless cameras, such as the Olympus E-PL3, have moreover the advantage that they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance and can thus use many lenses from other systems via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the E-PL3 gets 300 shots out of its BLS-5 battery,
while the 80D can take 960 images on a single charge of its LP-E6N power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The E-PL3 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 50 percent) than the 80D, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Olympus E-PL3 vs Canon 80D

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-PL3 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Canon 80D
an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the 80D is 50 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.6. The sensor in the E-PL3 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the 80D offers a 3:2 aspect.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 24MP, the 80D offers a higher
resolution than the E-PL3 (12.2MP), but the 80D has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of
3.75μm versus 4.29μm for the E-PL3). Yet, the 80D is a much more recent model (by 4 years and 7 months) than the E-PL3, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The 80D has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in relatively fast and reliable autofocus acquisition during video recording.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the 80D offers substantially better image quality than the E-PL3 (overall score 27 points higher). The advantage is based on 2.7 bits higher color depth, 2.9 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1.2 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the 80D provides a faster frame rate than the E-PL3. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/60i.

Feature comparison: Olympus E-PL3 vs Canon 80D

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the 80D has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight.
In contrast, the E-PL3 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the E-PL3 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-2. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus E-PL3 and Canon 80D along with similar information for a selection of comparators. If needed, the dpreview camera hub, for example, contains further detail on the cameras' specs.

One feature that differentiates the E-PL3 and the 80D is in-body image stabilization (IBIS).
The E-PL3 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the 80D has to rely on optical image stabilization
in OIS-equipped lenses to achieve the same effect.

The 80D is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon.
In contrast, the E-PL3 has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the E-PL3 was succeeded by the Olympus E-PL5.

Review summary: Olympus E-PL3 vs Canon 80D

So what is the bottom line? Is the Olympus E-PL3 better than the Canon 80D or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL3:

More compact: Is smaller (110x64mm vs 139x105mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.

Less heavy: Is lighter (by 417g or 57 percent) and hence easier to carry around.

Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization build-in.

More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.

More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (50 percent cheaper at launch).

More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in June 2011).

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 80D:

More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 12.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 43%.

More modern: Reflects 4 years and 7 months of technical progress since the E-PL3 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 80D is the clear winner of the contest (22 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera.

E-PL3 06:22 80D

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the E-PL3 and the 80D in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is why expert reviews are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The detailed reviews can be accessed by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

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